Alibaba partners with Daimler, Audi and Volvo to connect cars to homes

Car manufacturers Daimler, Audi and Volvo have added Alibaba’s smart voice assistant Tmall Genie to the range of smart devices compatible with their connected car apps. Car owners will soon be able to use the Tmall Genie voice-controlled speaker to monitor their fuel levels, mileage and the status of the engine and battery, as well as control car doors, windows and air conditioning, from home via voice command. The feature is expected to launch in the near future, Alibaba said. 

Volvo plans to use the Tmall Genie service on its XC90, S90 and XC60 models. Daimler and Audi are soon expected to specify with which models the Tmall Genie service will work. 

To enhance the digital experience for Chinese consumers, Daimler plans to use geofencing technology developed by Alibaba Cloud’s IoT division to automatically turn on or off lighting, thermostats and other home appliances when they drive past a designated area near their homes, the company said.

Similarly, Alibaba Labs is working to integrate its AI platform into vehicle operating systems, so users will be able to control Tmall Genie-compatible home appliances from their cars. With A.I. Labs’ voiceprint capabilities, the device will only execute commands when it is activated by the voice of authorized users.